David Mabuza: Motlanthe is to blame for the ANC’s problems

Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has reportedly blamed former African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe for creating disorder within the ruling party when he challenged President Jacob Zuma as the party’s leader in 2012.

The Sunday Times reported at the weekend the ANC provincial chairperson in Mpumalanga, who is seen as gunning for the party’s top job, said Motlanthe “broke the ANC tradition” of a deputy president awaiting to be elected to high office by allowing factionalism to deepen in the ANC.

The weekly reported Mabuza as saying the ANC would not have a divisive leadership battle today had Motlanthe stayed on as Zuma’s deputy.

“Yes, he [Motlanthe] created disorder. According to me, coming to this conference [the ANC elective congress in December this year], it was going to be easy if comrade Kgalema was there, we were going to proceed,” Mabuza said.

Motlanthe was not the only ANC veteran criticised by the Mpumalanga strongman, as Mabuza took a swipe at Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, saying he was also out order for publicly declaring his availability to be elected as Zuma’s successor.

It is not up to Ramaphosa to decide which position he should be elected to within the ANC, Mabuza said, adding only the governing party’s branches could decide who to put in leadership positions.

“Don’t tell us, ‘No, I’ve got this ambition’. It’s not about your ambition, it’s about how we feel as an organisation whether you’re going to be helpful to us,” he said.

The premier has served three terms as Mpumalanga’s chairperson and two as premier. The province is said to want him to be elected to a prominent national leadership position.

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